Excerpts
“WHAT EXACTLY IS FORBIDDEN
It seems to be becoming commonplace to suggest that what is forbidden is anal intercourse, or anal penetration, and that alone. That suggestion leads some to far-reaching conclusions. We forbid what is forbidden, but anything other than what is biblically forbidden is permissible. A relationship between two males that avoids actual anal intercourse or penetration is perfectly valid and halakhic. The other sexual behaviors in which they may engage are not forbidden.
Also, since we have made our position regarding anal intercourse/penetration clear, we can perform marriages/commitment ceremonies for homosexual couples and work on the premise that they obey our dictates, in exactly the way we make our dictates clear to heterosexual couples that they must not engage in intercourse when the woman is a menstruant, and we perform marriages for them on the premise that they do not violate what we demand. And, we are entitled to “check up” on the behavior of homosexual couples to exactly the same extent that we do so for heterosexual couples. It is to these suggestions that we must now address ourselves.
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LESBIANISM
Though I have been trying to limit my repetition of items that were already spelled out quite clearly in my earlier paper, I think
it important to review what was said there about lesbianism. I copy it below.
The sages have forbidden female homosexuality…Female homosexuality is no less forbidden by the law than male homosexuality. It is the classification of the prohibitions that distinguishes them from one another.
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Piskei Din
A) In accordance with resolutions of the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue, we affirm that gays and lesbians are welcome in our congregations, youth groups, camps and schools.
B) Homosexuals will not be denied any honors within worship and regarding lay leadership positions.
C) Members of the Rabbinical Assembly and the Cantors Assembly will not perform commitment ceremonies for gays and lesbians.
D) The Rabbinical and Cantorial schools will not knowingly admit sexually active homosexual students, nor will they be admitted to either the Rabbinical Assembly or the Cantors Assembly. No witch hunts will be instigated against those who are already students or members.
E) Whether sexually active homosexuals may function as teachers and youth leaders in our congregations and schools will be left to the rabbi authorized to make halakhic decisions for a given institution within the Conservative Movement.